Gift Ideas for Snowbirds: Travel Gifts for Older Parents

Many older snowbirds head south for the winter, including their parents or grandparents, and most of them travel to Florida, where you will find thousands of retirees with vacation homes.  Do you need gift ideas for your old folks all year round?  Do you want to surprise your grandparents but you have no idea how to? Don't panic. In this article, you will find several gift ideas that will make your old ones happy and make you proud.

Gift ideas for snowbirds and travel gifts for older parents:

1. A Food Carrier
2. A Wine Carrier
3. Floating Beach Lounge
4. Inflatable Pool Bar
5. A Golf Rack
6. Reader's Journal
7. Picture Frames
8. A Golf Course Guide
9. A Camera
10. A Photo Printer
11. Travel Guide
12. Smartphone Sanitizer
13. USB Cufflinks
14. Bluetooth Speaker
15. Map Heart Pillow
16. Photo Books
17. Leather Tech Gloves
18. A Tablet
19. Tile Trackers
20. Solar Chargers for Cell phones and Computers
21. Solar Lanterns or Hand Crank Lanterns
22. A GPS

As soon as it gets colder or when the winter months approach, many snowbirds begin to travel to warmer parts of southern states and to other popular snowbird locations southwest.  A lot of them will take to traveling or living in their RVs all through the winter months.

While some snowbirds will decide to stay in campgrounds or vacation resorts, others who are more adventurous will boondock on beautiful beaches or even in the deserts of California.  Remember, your grandparents came to the warmer region to escape the winter blues.  Below are twenty-two different gift ideas for your snowbird parents and grandparents this year:

1. A Food Carrier

This may seem very basic, but it is as important as the meal itself. Imagine being invited to a potluck without having anything to carry your dishes. It could be quite annoying and, at the same time, stressful. The same goes for your snowbird grandparents, who may want to bring a casserole or other tasty dish to a potluck.

Getting them a food carrier will make things a lot easier. They will get to keep the food warm and remain everyone's favorite chef. Therefore, this gift Idea for your snowbird grandparents will help them to transport their casserole in style.

2. A Wine Carrier

You are wondering what a wine carrier does. It helps to easily transport your drinks to where they are needed and contributes to keeping things chilled. No doubt, wine does not taste great when it is warmed up.  Personally, it's a no for me.  

This is why you need a wine carrier to help you maintain the temperature of your wine throughout your movement and keep it safe. This wine carrier will help your snowbird grandparents to get their alcohol and other drinks to the party safely and ready to serve.

3. Floating Beach Lounge

Now that your grandparents are retired and have taken to the South, they would want to explore and have fun in the way they can. Allow them to get started as best as possible with a floating beach lounge.

This floating beach lounge will help them enjoy themselves with a chilled drink and probably a good book while relaxing in the pool. Therefore, gift ideas for your snowbird grandparents should include a pool lounger.

4. Inflatable Pool Bar

Just because your folks are old does not mean they cannot enjoy a young person's gift.  Another gift idea for your snowbird's parents or grandparents is an inflatable pool bar, allowing them to enjoy the pool's warmth while relaxing and having fun!

Fortunately, Inflatable pool bars have become all the rage down south. Now, you or your grandparents will not have to leave the warmth of the winter sun again. This gift idea for your snowbird grandparents will make them happy and help them get their rank.

5. A Golf Rack

This gift idea is probably the joy of most parents or grandparents. Many retirees have formed a snowbird association, allowing them to plan for outings, including golf trips. During these trips, a golf rack will come in handy to store essentials and for easy movement.

If you go down to Florida, you will hear retirees yelling regularly. This year, get your grandparents this dedicated organizer to help them store all their equipment and keep things smart and tight.

6. Reader's Journal

Most snowbird retirees take to reading books during their leisure time. If you have snowbird folks who love reading, then it is time to help them join a book club so that they can share their passion with others.  A reader's journal is the best start for any book club.

Therefore, you can get your folks a reader's journal and let them start their library off, courtesy of your treat.  Moreover, if they happen to run out of room for their books, snag them some of these.

7. Picture Frames

For most snowbirds who travel far into the south, being away from home can be pretty hard, especially far from their loved ones.  However, one way to help them keep you in their hearts is by sending them picture frames with your photos in it or a treasured family photo. Trust me; they are going to love it.

 8. A Golf Course Guide

Now for most snowbird retirees who wish to try out golfing, a golf course guide can go a long way in helping them enjoy it.

Yes, I know we have been focusing mostly on Florida, but then, it is still the heart of the snowbird community. Getting a golf course guide can be the perfect companion, especially for that day-trip lover in your family.

9. A Camera

For many snowbirds who like to adventure and go on day trips, a camera can come in handy, especially for those who love nature and like to take photos of beautiful scenery.  The phone camera is improving, but a DSLR or compact camera still has many advantages, particularly for nature and scenic images.

Therefore, a digital camera is another gift idea for your snowbird friends or folks. Trust me, they will appreciate it.

10. A Photo Printer

Some snowbirds like to take pictures and print them right out rather than store them on unfair computers or phones.  Many of them like to decorate their homes or RVs with these photos so that they can glance at the photos to remind them of their adventures.

A photo printer is the best option if you are not wild about keeping your photos on your computer. You can help your snowbird folks to start their new photo album with it. They will love it.

11. Travel Guide

Now if you have chosen Florida as your snowbird location, you will realize that it is a diverse state with something in store for everyone.  For your snowbird friends and family, you can get a full-color travel guide to help them plan their excursions or journeys away from home.

This would help them explore their winter locations and other fun places before they embark on their trips.

12. Smartphone Sanitizer

It is safe to assume that many parents and grandparents are really obsessed with cleanliness. It's just in them. This is why getting them a smartphone sanitizer will help keep their gadgets and techs squeaky clean and, at the same time, keep those medical bills down.

Wondering what to get your snowbird grandparents this period? A smartphone sanitizer will come in handy anyway and anytime.

13. USB Cufflinks

The beauty of USB cufflinks is that they can be worn as normal cufflinks and used to save and transfer files. The amazing part is that they look so real that they can be easily confused. So this season, why not blow your granny's mind with a pair of USB cufflinks?  

Moreover, they really work both ways. Now, they can't get confused with these amazing gadgets away from home.

14. Bluetooth Speaker

This may sound like a young person's thing, but who says your parents and grandparents cannot also enjoy this fantastic gift? With a Bluetooth speaker, your parents' parties can be animated. There are several Bluetooth speakers available on the market with great sounds and effects, and some are even waterproof.

It is safe to assume that your retired parents, grandparents or other snowbird friends like to entertain others.  This is where a Bluetooth speaker comes in handy as an avenue for them to blast their 90s tunes indoors or outdoors.

The significant part of this is that some of them come with built-in rechargeable batteries and controls that are easy to use, and since some are waterproof, it is a perfect option for pool parties or when the speaker is near the pool.  So get your snowbird friends, parents, and grandparents a Bluetooth speaker this year!

15. Map Heart Pillow

This is a customized pillow. As the name sounds, it places two different destinations on each side of the heart. Therefore, you can put your new destination on one side and the old destination on the other side.

The map heart pillow is a creative gift that is bound to put a smile on the faces of your snowbird friends or folks and help them decorate their homes.

16. Photo Books

Photo books are always a great gift for grandparents or snowbirds who miss home. You can never go wrong with photo books. With the continuous advancement in technology, several online services can allow you to turn all your Instagram photos on your phones into real photo books and Christmas cards.

With the right online services, you can do this pretty quickly. All you need to do is select the photos you want to convert, and in a week or so, your parents, grandparents, or friends will get a photo book delivered right to their doorstep. So sweet!

17. Leather Tech Gloves

It sometimes gets a bit cold in Florida or other southern states. Leather tech gloves are handy for your snowbird friends and family, especially if their hands get cold quickly.

The leather tech gloves allow them to keep their hands warm while still being able to use all their mobile devices easily. Now, grandma's hands can remain safely shielded from the cold while operating gadgets.

18. A Tablet

It is no news that the price of tablets has decreased considerably since the iPad was introduced in late 2010. Your retired snowbird parents, grandparents, or snowbird friend on your Christmas gift list will most likely enjoy using a tablet to listen to music or watch movies on the plane, make video calls, and even browse the internet.

All these activities can be quickly done on less expensive tablet models such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab, which you will find available in any online store. As a great gift idea, a tablet could be an excellent introduction to the fantastic world of smart devices and a great way for you and your loved ones to stay connected.

19. Tile Trackers

Tile trackers are also an amazing technological advancement. With an accessible mode, you can clip one of the Tile trackers onto your keys or phones so you don't lose them. It is a beautiful gift idea for your snowbird folks because if your parents or grandparents don't remember as well as they used to, Tile makes easy trackers that will attach to anything they are most likely to lose.

This gift idea is a great way to keep track of objects like your car keys, credit card, or cell phone. All you need to do is attach the Tile tracker to those things you constantly misplace and register it with the easy app. Anytime your memory gets foggy, and you're not sure where it is, just use the app to locate it.

Easy right? Just think of all the time your grandparents will save because they don't have to look for their keys or cell phones as they step out of the house for a morning walk.

20. Solar Chargers for Cell phones and Computers

Solar-powered battery chargers can be handy for home and RVing snowbirds. They can keep cell phones and computers charged without running their generator. These solar chargers are even great options for a power outage at home during storms or other emergencies.

This gift idea is great for snowbird campers, hikers and other outdoor lovers.

21. Solar Lanterns or Hand Crank Lanterns

This makes great gifts for RVing snowbirds. Solar lanterns can come in handy for snowbirds who like to camp or outdoor lovers. Even those with access to electricity in their homes will still appreciate a solar lantern that can easily be used outdoors or during power outages.

These solar and hand crank lanterns are also a practical gift for your snowbird campers or RVers who will be boondocking on the beach or probably in the desert as it will provide them with a light source without having to run a generator and without draining the batteries on their rigs.

Since we have discovered that traditional lanterns do not function well inside our motor home (as they set off all the fire alarms), it may be problematic to get a light source indoors at night.  However, these lanterns will remain on our wish list because they get really useful when reading at night or playing games.

22. A GPS

Most snowbird RVers shouldn't leave the house without a GPS.  Now a dash-mounted GPS is a common and useful gift for an RVer.  It comes in handy when they need to find their way to those out-of-the-way camping spots, around different detours, and to those special attractions or restaurants that they have only read about.

A second GPS unit will also be appreciated by those who drive motorhomes, especially for their tow vehicle, which they drive into town.

For those snowbirds who like to hike in the desert or explore nature's habitat, a handheld GPS will ensure they find their way back home again. With a handheld GPS, you just won't get lost while Hiking. Aside from that, a handheld GPS, instead of a map, is also a great option for Geocaching, a popular treasure hunt activity or a game where "treasures" are hidden only to be located using GPS coordinates.

So if you're looking for a gift idea for snowbirds this year, consider a GPS!

Final remarks

We hope that these gift ideas will help you easily find a present that will put a smile on the faces of your friends and family!